Index device



April 26, 1938.

E. W. A. PETER INDEX DEVICE Filed Dec. 4. 1936 INVENTOR NEY \ l \l 1,2 dmund (D. CL. Pe'er B i W ATTOR 1l lHlllil I w fw 25 5l/4 L4 "Patented Anna-6,1938 I l 2,115,537... 'Y Y,

UNITED STATES PATENT ori-1CD.,

' anun Y I Edmund wi ma, antica Application December 4, 1936, Serial No., 114,121 In Great Britain November as. 193s 22 Claims. (Cl. 40-100 My invention relates to index devices such as Figures 4 and 5 are fragmented sectional views telephone'and other directories, calendars, listers. taken on lines I-'l, and 5-5 respectively' vof registers, recipe indexes, radiostation indexes. Fig. 3. f etc., and is more-particularly directed to that That embodiment. of my invention shown in type of index device comprising atack or pile of the drawing is an alphabetical index device 5' l superimposed sheets which are alphabetically or adapted for various uses, such, for example, as

otherwise suitably indexed and are so associated a telephone or other directory. This index dethat they are adapted to be opened up or separatvice comprises a rectangular base or support I ed, as, for example, in a manner similar to the having mounted thereon for 'swinging movement .1g pages of a book or of a loose-leaf binder, to render with respect thereto a `stack of similar superimavailable any desired sheet or section of the posed thin iiat rectangular members 2,preferabiy i' device. in the form of cardboard or paper sheets, and a 'I'he principal object of myinvention is to prorectangular ilanged cover 3 which when in its vide in an index device voi' this character an imlowered closed position, overlies the said flat proved construction whereby any desired section members or sheets. The cover 3 is provided with 15 or sheet of the device may be accurately and very a flanged end section 3' which overlies the rear quickly and readily made available for reference end portionl' of the stack of sheets 2, and disor the entry of items. posed between the said -cover section and the Another object of my invention Yis to provide uppermostD sheet 2 is a fairly thick and rigid such an index device wherein the superimposed rectangular spacing member or bar 4. Screw- 20 sheets are adapted to be opened or separated aubolts 5 which extend through lthe support or tomatically at any desired place which may be base I, the rear end portions 2' of sheets 2, bar 4 selected with the device in closed condition. and cover section 3', and knurled nuts 6 threaded .A further object of my invention is to provide onto the upper end portions of the screw-bolts in an index device of the character described and constitute means serving to secure the said rear 25V wherein the superimposed sheets are relatively end portions, bar and cover section fixedly but xed at one end portion, an improved construcremovably to the base. tion and arrangement whereby the movement of The cover 3 is pivotally connected tothe cover any number of the sheets with respect to the rest Section 3' by a rod l, being thus mounted on the required to open or separate the said sheets at a base or support I for swinging movement relative 30 desired point may readily be effected without the thereto towards and away from the same. Movesheets apprcciably interfering with or resisting ment of the cover 3 upward and away from the such movement. support I is limited by suitable means such, for

A still further object of my invention is to proexample. aS a rearward extension B providedv on vide a device cf this character which is simple one side fiance of the cover and a laterally pro- 35 in construction, economical to manufacture, and .lectlng portion 9 which 1S provided on the correhighly eiective in attaining the'above indicated sponding flange of the cover section 2 and lies desired results, in the path of the said extension 8 so as to be l other objects and features of my invention will engaged thereby when the cover 1S in its fully 40 be hereinafter described and set forth in the apraised Open DOSitlOn 8SSl10WI1 in F18- 1- The 40 pended claims. cover is suitably biased to such raised or open For a clearer understanding of my invention position as by a tensioned coiled Spring I0 dis-, attention is directed to the drawing which acposed abOlll the DiVOt rOd l and having its ends companies and forms part of this specification respectively extending beneath and bearing and 1n whih; against adjacent portions of the cover and cover Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken Section 3'. BS Clearly ShOWnln F18. 3-

away, of a preferred form of my improved index Each 0f the Sheets 2 1S provided With a perdevice with the cover thereof in raised o r open marient transverse crease or fold I I between the position; Y main and rear end portions thereof whereby such Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the index main portion oi the sheet is connected to the sup- 50 device shown in Fig. l, with the cover thereof port 0r base l for Swinging up and down movelocked in its lowered or closed position; ment relative thereto about the line of lsaid Figure 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, of crease. 'Ihe creases II are parallel to the pivot the index device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the rod 9 and are located adjacent thereto and -5|; cover -locked in its closed position; and slightly forwardly thereof. However, and this is 55 an important feature of my invention, the said creases II from the uppermost to the lowermost sheets 2 of the stack are respectively disposed at progressively increasing distances forwardly of rod 9, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. By reason of this feature each of the sheets 2 is adapted to swing freely about the line of its crease II, and such number of the sheets as may be required toppen'orseparate the stack at anypoint where it may be desired to refer to an'item already entered or to enter a new item, can be simultaneously moved upwardly about their creases without resultant deformation of any of the sheets so moved and without any tendency for the sheets to so interfere `with each other as Vto appreciably resist or oppose the free swinging crease from the uppermost to the lowermost to provide a guideway I3. A member I4 has a' shoe portion I5 engaging the guideway I3 and is thereby slidably mounted on the guideway for movement lengthwise of the cover. The member I4 is provided with an upper' portion I8 which extends inwardly over the tcp of the cover 2 and terminates in a pointer or indicator l1. Member I4 also has a lower inwardly extending portion or hook I8 which is adapted for selective coaction with the portions I2 of sheets 2 and which,

when the cover isv closed, lies within the recess I' of support I at a level slightly below the bottom sheet 2 of the stack. The pointer I'I is adapted to cooperate with a suitable index I! such, for example, as the letters of the alphabet.

which is applied to and extends longitudinally of l the cover adjacent the path of movement of said pointer. The sheets 2 also preferably bear index characters which fromthe top to thebottom of the stack, respectively, correspond to the characters of the index I9 on the cover, that is, in

the device illustrated, the uppermost sheet bears the letter A, the ne-xt sheet the letter B, and so on to the lowermost sheet, which bears the letters X, Y andZ.

Secured to the member I4, is a spring arm 2li f having at its free end a detent 2I whichis biased towards the cover 2 and is adapted to coact with a series of indentations 22 provided in the cover to yieldingly and releasably lock said member in adjusted position. A suitable handle 23 may also be provided on member Il to facilitate adjustment of the latter. f

Suitable means is provided for automatically effecting -the releasable locking of the cover 2 in its lowered or closed position against the action of spring I0, upon movement of the cover to such position, this means preferably being .of such construction that the cover may readily be released to effect automatic upward or opening movement thereof and of such of the sheets 2 as may be operatively connected thereto by member I4, under the action of spring i0. This means,

which may convenientlyA be formed integral1y` with the front flange of the cover, and a spring biased latch 25 with which said detent coacts. The latch 25 which has an upper inwardly inclined surface, is preferably carried by or formed on the free end of a spring 26 which is suitably secured at its other end to the support I, as indicated at 21. That form of the spring 26 shown is bowed upwardly between its ends and extends longitudinally of the support in a position adjacent and substantially parallel to` the guideway I2 of cover 3, when the latter is in its lowered closed position, and with the latch 25 normally located, under the biasing action of the spring, in operative relation with respect to the detent 24 of the cover, The free end'portion of spring 2B loosely engages a guide slot formed in a struck-,up end 28 of a member 29 secured to the support I adjacent its front end. The other end SII of member 29 is also struck up and forms ak stop to limit the forward` movement of latch 25 when the bowed spring 26 is flexed downwardly. At its rear'end the base I may beprovided with a suitable notch 3l to facilitate the separation of the stackof sheets 2 and cover 2 from the support i, after removal of bolts 5, when it is desired to do so for the replacement of any of the sheets or for any other purpose.

The operation of that form of index device il'- lustrated herein, is believed tc be obvious but may be briefly described as follows: When the cover 3, as vshown in Fig. 1, is in its raisedopen position, and is then swung down against the action of spring I D to its closed position, the detent 24 engages the 4upper inclined surface of latch 25 to force the latter outwardly against the action of spring 28; and Vafter the detent has cleared the said inclined surface, the latch snaps into engagement therewith and thus automatically `eil'ects the locking of the cover in its lowered closed position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. To then effect the opening or separation of the stack of sheets 2 at any desired point it ismerely necessary to adjust the member Ilto theV proper position on its guldeway I3 and apply a slight downward. pressure to the bowed portion of spring 26.

For example, if it is desired to separate the stack of sheets so that the sheet bearing the letter K will be available for reference tc` or entry of an item, member Il is moved on guideway I3 to a position in` which pointer I'I is directly opposite `the letter K. of index I9, in which position it will be yieldingly locked by engagement of lthe spring-biased detent 2I with the corresponding indentation 22, and pressure is then applied to spring 28 to flex the bowed portion thereof down# wardlysuch an amount as to cause the latch 25 to move forwardly out of engagement with the detent 25. The spring III will thereupon act automatically to move the cover 3 to its open position, shown in Fig. 1, and also to move with the cover all of the sheets 2 which are above the sheet bearing the letter K, as the hook portion I8 of member Il is then positioned to engage the edge portion I 2 of the sheet bearing the letter J and said member therefore serves operatively to connect the latter sheet 'and'those above it with the cover.

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Vro puede memo: meets at some f asians? leased by applying a downward pressure to spring' 2l., l In the device shown it isapparent that member Il may be adjusted and'springv 26 may thereafter be operated to release the cover by 7 one hand and without materially the position of the hand.

It is to be understood that thel index' device lshown and specifically described herein. is subject to numerous modiiications and changes in the form andarrangement oi its parts without departure from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

support, a plurality oi' superimposed sheets mounted i'or swinging movement relatively to said support. a member swingably connected to said support. means for selectively connectingsaid sheets with said member in such number as may support, a plurality of superimposed sheets' mounted for swinging movement relatively to= be desired, and means whereby a simple manipulation will eilectiautomatic swinging movementy ci said member and any sheet or sheets so selected relatively to seid support and away from the rest of said sheets.

3. In a device oi' the character described, a

said support. a member swingably 'connected to said support for movement towards and away i'rom the same, said member being biased away from the support, and means for selectively connectingsaid sheets to said member ior swinging movement therewith.

4. In a device of the character described, a support, a plurality of superimposed nat elements mounted for movement towards and away from said support, a member mounted for movement towards and away from the support, said member being biased away from the support, and means adapted to selectively connect said elements to said member for movement therewith.

5. In a device of the character described, a

' support, a plurality of superimposed sheets `said member in a position adjacent said sup-I mounted for movement with respect to said support, a member associated with said sheets and mounted for movement towards and away from said support, said' member beingl biased away from said support, meansi'or releasably holding port, and means for selectively connecting said sheets to said member for movement therewith.

6. A device of the character described comprising a support, a plurality ot superimposed sheets mounted for swinging movement relatively to said `support, a cover pivotally connected to said support and spring-biased away from the same, and means carried by said cover for selectively connecting said sheets in such number as may be desired to the cover for movement therewith.

7. A device oi the character described comprismg 's support, s plurality of sheets mounted' on said support for swinging movement, a cover pivotally-connected to said support and adapted tooverlie all of said sheets, said cover being springbiased away from the support. means carried by the cover for selectively connecting thereto to i move therewith `any desired number of said sheets, and cooperative means on said support rand cover for releasably locking the latter in a position adjacent the support.

8. A device of the character described comprising a support, a plurality of superimposed sheets mounted on` saidsupport for swinging I movement, a cover pivotally connected to said support and spring-biased away from the same. and means vfor selectively connecting -to the cover for movement therewith any desired number of said sheets, said connecting means com-` prising a. device mounted on the cover for movement along one edge portion thereof.

9. A device of the character described comprising a support, a plurality of superimposed sheets mounted for swinging movement relatively to said support, a cover pivotally connected to said support and spring-biased away from the same, means for selectively connecting to the cover for movement therewith any desired number of said sheets, said connecting means comprising a de- 'vice mounted on the cover for movement along one, edge portion thereof., and means for releasably locking the cover in a position adjacent the support, said locking means comprising a membermounted on said support and operable to release the cover, said member being so posi- `tionedl on the support as to be adjacent the said edge portion of the cover when the latter is in its locked position.

10. A device of the character described comprising a suppo'rt, a plurality oi" superimposed sheets mounted for swinging movement relatively to said support, a cover pivotally connected to the support and biased away from the same, means for selectively connecting to the cover for movement therewith any desired number of said sheets, said connecting means comprising a device mounted on the cover for movement along one edge portion thereof, a detent carried by the cover, and an elongated upwardly bowed resilient member xed at one end only to thesupport in such position as to be adjacent the said cdgeportion of the cover when .the latter is adjacent the support, the other end of said member being provided with a latch which is adapted to engage said detent to thereby lock the cover in a position adjacent the support and which is discngageable from said detent by downward flexure of saidmember.

11. In an index of. the character described, a support, a plurality of superimposed sheets mounted for swinging movement relatively to said support, a cover for said sheets pivotally con-` nected to said support, and means for selectively connecting said sheets to said cover for swinging movement therewith, said means comprising a device mounted on said cover for sliding movement only with respect thereto and along one edge portion thereof and selectively engageable in such movement thereof with said sheets, said cover and slidably mounted device having coacting means forwreleasably locking such device to the cover in any one of a plurality of positions.

12. In a device of the character described, a support, aplurality of superimposed sheets mounted for swinging movement relatively to said support, a cover for said sheets pivotally connected to said support and'biased away from the same to raised or open position, means for selectively connecting to the cover for movement therewith any desired .number of said sheets, and means for releasably locking the cover in lowered or closed position comprising an elongated and v'normallybowed spring member secured at one en d to the support and having a locking element at its other end, said locking element being in operative position when said spring member is in its normal bowed form and being movable to inoperative position by flexing of the spring member from its normal form.

13. A device of the charactervdescribed comprising a support; a stack of superimposed sheets secured at one end portion to said support, each of said sheets having a permanent flexible crease adjacent the secured end portion thereof and about the line of which the sheet is adapted to swing, the creases of. the sheets from the top to the bottom of the stack being at progressively increasing distances from the said secured end portion; a cover for said sheets pivotally connected to said support; and means for selectively' connectingto the cover for movement therewith any desired number of said sheets.

14. In an lindex of the character described; a support; a f stack of superimposed fiat elements secured at adjacent edge portions to said support, each of said elements having a perma- -nent transverse flexible crease adjacent the secured edge portion thereof, the said creases from the uppermost to the lowermost elements of thel stack being at progressively increasing distances from said secured edge portions, adjacent edge' portions of said elements other than Vthe saidsecured edge portions being of. progressively decreasing lengths from the uppermost to the lowermost` elements; a cover adapted to overlie said i'lat elements and pivotally mounted on said support for movement to a closed position towards said support and to an open position away from said support; and means for selectively connect- :ing said elements to said cover for movement described, said elements being designed to be se-` cured together at adjacent edge portions thereof corresponding to one side of the stack, each of said elements having a transversepermanent flexible crease adjacent lits respective said edge portion, the said creases from the uppermost to the lowermost elements of the stack being at progressively increasing distances from said edge portions, and adjacent edge portions of said elements corresponding to another side of the stack being of progressively decreasing lengths from. the

uppermost to the lowermost elements.

16. In a device of the character described, a support, a plurality of superimposed iiat elements or sheets pivotally mounted at adjacent ends for swinging movement relatively to said support, a. member pivotally mounted on said support for movement to a. closed position towards said support and to an open` position away from said support, and means cooperating with adjacent side ledge portions of said elements or sheets which are substantially at right angles to the pivoted ends of said elements or sheets for selecf tively connecting said elements or sheets to said member for movement therewith.

17. Ina device of the character ldescribed, a support, a plurality of superimposed fiat elements` pivotally mounted at adjacent ends for swinging movement relatively to said support, a cover adapted to overlie said fiat elements and pivotally mounted on said'support for movement to a closed position towards said support and to an open position away from said support, and means foi selectively connecting said fiat elements to said cover for movement therewith comprising a device mounted on said cover for movement along a side edge portion thereof which is substantially at right angles to the pivotal axis of the cover.

18. In a device of the character described, a. support, a. plurality of superimposed iat elements pivotally mounted at adjacent ends for swinging movement relatively to said support, a cover adapted to overlie said iiat elements and pivotally mounted on said. support for movement to a closed position towards said support and to an open position away from said support, and'means cooperable with adjacent side edge portions of said at elements which are substantially at right angles to the pivoted ends of said elements for selectively connecting said elements to said cover for movement therewith, said means comprising a device mounted on saidcover for movement along a side? edge portion thereof whichis subv stantially at right angles to the pivoted ends of said elements being of progressively decreasing lengths from the uppermost tothe lowermost elements, and means forselectively connecting said elements. to said `cover for 'movement therewith comprising a device mounted on the cover for movement along the side edge portion thereci' corresponding to the said side edge portions ofy said elements, said device having means which in such movement of the device on said cover selectively cooperates with the said side edge portions of said elements. `20. In a device of the character described, a support, a stack of superimposed ilat elements y secured together. at adjacent end portions and also secured at such end portions to said support,

each of said elements having a permanent transverse crease adjacent the secured end portion thereof, the said creases from the uppermost to the lowermost elements of the stack being at progressively increasing distances from said secured end po1tions,`adjacent side edge portions of said elementswhich are substantially at right angles to said secured end portions being of progressively decreasing lengths from the uppermost to the lowermost elements, a cover adapted to overlie said fiat elements and pivotally mounted on said support for movement to a closed position towards vsaid support and to an open position tively connecting said elements to said cover for movement therewith comprising a device mount- 75 lil 'sald patent.

ed on the cover for movement along the side edge portion thereof corresponding to the said side edge portions oi said elements, said device having means which in such movement of the device on said cover selectively cooperates with the said side edge portions of said elements.

' 21. A stack of superimposed-flat elements for use in a selective index device oi the character described, each of said elements being swingable about a line adjacent one end of said stack, and adjacent side edge portions of said elements which are substantially at right angles to the said end o! said stack being of progressively decreasing lengths from the uppermost to the iowermost elements.

22. A stack oi superimposed at elements for use in a-seiective index device of lthe character described, said elements being designed to be secured together at adjacent end portions thereof corresponding to. one end of the stack, each of 'said elements having a transverse permanent EDMUND w. A. PE'I'ER.

DISCLAIMER- .-Ed nd A. Peter, Vancouver 231.1,..5537 mu 26, 193. Disclaimer filed Oct. 17, 1945, by

Baies Manufacturing Company.

Dlrvrcli.l Patent dated Apr.

the inventor and the licensee, 'The Hereby enter this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

November .97.

v -Q [om: amm

British Columbia, Canada. 'INDEX 7, s, 16, 17, 19, and 2i of lli lil

'sald patent.

ed on the cover for movement along the side edge portion thereof corresponding to the said side edge portions oi said elements, said device having means which in such movement of the device on said cover selectively cooperates with the said side edge portions of said elements.

' 21. A stack of superimposed-flat elements for use in a selective index device oi the character described, each of said elements being swingable about a line adjacent one end of said stack, and adjacent side edge portions of said elements which are substantially at right angles to the said end o! said stack being of progressively decreasing lengths from the uppermost to the iowermost elements.

22. A stack oi superimposed at elements for use in a-seiective index device of lthe character described, said elements being designed to be secured together at adjacent end portions thereof corresponding to. one end of the stack, each of 'said elements having a transverse permanent EDMUND w. A. PE'I'ER.

DISCLAIMER- .-Ed nd A. Peter, Vancouver 231.1,..5537 mu 26, 193. Disclaimer filed Oct. 17, 1945, by

Baies Manufacturing Company.

Dlrvrcli.l Patent dated Apr.

the inventor and the licensee, 'The Hereby enter this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

November .97.

v -Q [om: amm

British Columbia, Canada. 'INDEX 7, s, 16, 17, 19, and 2i of lli 

